Orthodontic tying attachment

ABSTRACT

An orthodontic appliance in the form of a tying attachment for securing an elastic band or thread to a tooth which includes a conically shaped base wall and an inverted frusto-conically shaped upstanding wall coacting to form a ridge for engagement against a band, wherein the attachment is structured so that it may be efficiently and securely welded to the band.

United States Patent [191 Kesling [4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 ORTHODONTIC TYING ATTACl-llVlENT [76] Inventor: Peter C. Kesling, Green Acres,

' LaPorte, lnd. 46350 [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1974 [21] Appl. No; 457,465

[52] US. Cl 32/14 A [5 1] Int. Cl. A6lc 7/00 [58] Field of Search 32/14 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1965 Bien 32/14 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS Ormco, Linquzl Button Cet. No. 75, 816 Dodsworth Ave., Covina, Calif.

Primary Examiner-Robert Peslo ck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lockwood, Dewey, Zickert & Alex [57] ABSTRACT An orthodontic; appliance in the form of a tying attachment for securing an elastic band or thread to a tooth which includes a conically shaped base wall and an inverted frusto-conically shaped upstanding wall coacting to form a ridge for engagement against a band, wherein the attachment is structured so that it may be efficiently and securely welded to the band.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ORTHODONTIC TYING A'I'IACHL'IENT This invention relates in general to an orthodontic appliance and a method of mounting the appliance on band material or a band, and more particularly to a tying attachment weldable to band material or a band for. receiving an elastic band or a resilient thread to apply a traction force to a tooth, and still more particularlyto a tying attachment that may be quickly and easily spot welded to band material or a band.

Heretofore, tying attachments for application of traction forces to teeth through elastic bands or thread have been well known and often referred to as lingual buttons. One of the first such attachments known is illustrated in Treatment of Malocclusion of the Teeth by Dr. Edward H. Angle, which was published in 1907. Currently, tying attachments are employed in all orthodontic techniques where bands are cemented to the teeth. Usually, the attachments are soldered or welded to the lingual surfaces of the bands for applying traction to the teeth, while an orthodontic bracket is normally attached to the labial or buccal surface of the band.

Where the attachments are solderedto a band, they resemble short-stemmed pinheads and require considerable skill and expertise to obtain acceptable solder connections. Moreover, the soldering operation often discolors the band necessitating a polishing operation.

Some of the heretofore known attachments are presoldered onto thin bases or welding pads wherein the pad is thereafter suitably welded to a band. The presolder operation is costly and adds unnecessary height to the attachment, and it is usually necessary to perform six or more spot welds to assure proper retention of the pad to the band and prevent the edges of the thin pad from irritating the patients tongue.

It is also known to machine attachments with bases integral to the attachment on small lathe or screw machines. However, such attachments are of necessity of such a height that irritation and discomfort to the tongue is encountered. Further, the bases or pads,

being larger than the diameter of the attachment heads, cause deformation of the relatively thinner and softer band material when the pads are welded to the band.

The orthodontic tying attachment of the present invention obviates the heretofore known difficulties in providing an attachment that may be quickly and easily welded to band material or a band, thereby saving time and labor costs for the orthodontist, and also of such a formation as to provide materially increased comfort for the patient. It should be appreciated that reference herein will be made to bands or band material since appliances are mounted either on band material that is then formed into a band or on preformed bands depending on the chosen procedure. Reference to band material is intended to encompass bands, or reference to bands is intended to encompass band material. The attachment of the invention includes a generally conically shaped bottom or base wall coacting with an inverted generally frusto-conically shaped upstanding side wall. The junction of the walls defines a ridge for engagement against a band and to facilitate welding attachment to the band. A generally V-shaped channel is defined by the upstanding wall and the band for receiving the tying element, while the outer side of the bottom wall and the inner side of the upstanding wall coact to define a trough which during a part of the welding operations receives one of the welding electrodes. The attachment is structured so that a plurality of spot welds can be performed to securely and properly mount the attachment on a band. The attachment may be formed of a suitable metal by one or more stamping and/or cutting operations and thereafter suitably deburred. Accordingly, it is inexpensive to manufacture and is easier to attach to bands. Since the attachment essentially does not include any stem formation, it presents a low profile on the band. The ridge formed and carrying the spot welds to the band is recessed or shrouded from the outer periphery of the attachment, thereby eliminating exposure to the tonque.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved and essentially radically different orthodontic tying attachment for retaining elastic bands or threads to apply traction forces to teeth.

Another object of the present invention is in the provision of a new and improved tying attachment which is inexpensive to manufacture and capable of being easily attached to an orthodontic band or band material through welding operations.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved orthodontic attachment for securing by welding to a band or band material which virtually includes no stem so that it provides a low profile relative to attachment to a band on a tooth.

A still further object of the present invention is in the provision of a new and improved orthodontic tying attachment that may be easily spot welded to a band or band material and which eliminates any large base that might cause band distortion and irritation of the tongue Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tying attachment that eliminates the heretofore provided base which thereby eliminates the possibility of sharp edges that would irritate gums or tongue, thereby providing more comfort to the patient.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tooth having a band cemented thereto with a bracket mounted on one side of the band and an orthodontic tying attachment according to the invention mounted on the other side of the band;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged plan view of the orthodontic tying attachment according to the invention and illustrating in dotted lines the several positions for a welding electrode in order to accomplish the proper welding operations for attaching the attachment to a band;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along 33 of FIG. 2 and illustrating one position of the welding electrodes;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 illustrating another position of the electrodes; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 but illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the tying attachment is formed for application to a molar or bicuspid tooth.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly'to FIG. 1, a cuspid tooth 10 is illustrated having a band 1 I cemented thereto. A bracket 12 is shown mounted on the band at the labial or buccal side, while a tying attachment 13 according to the invention is shown mounted on the lingual side. It should be appreciated that the tying attachment 13 could also be mounted on the labial or buccal side of the band if so desired, but normally in most orthodontic techniques such a tying attachment is needed on the lingual side for receiving an elastic band or thread to provide a traction force in the mesial, distal or occlusal direction. Further, it should be appreciated that the tying attachment may likewise be used on bicuspid or molar teeth, as illustrated by the modification in FIG. 5. The tying attachment may be made of any suitable metal, such as a stainless steel, and it can be appreciated that the band 11 would also be of a suitable metal, such as stainless steel, wherein the tying attachment 13 may be suitably spot welded to the band.

The tying attachment 13 includes a base or bottom wall 18 and an upstanding or sidewall 19. The base wall 18 is generally conically shaped and has an inner somewhat concave side 22 and an outer somewhat con vex side 23. The outer side further includes a center point or peak 24. v

The upstanding wall 19 includes an inner side 28 and an outer side 29, and it can be appreciated that the inner side is somewhat convex, while the outer side is somewhat concave and, where the wall is in cross section, arcuately formed. The outer periphery of the upstanding wall terminates in an edge 30.

A ridge 33 is formed at the merging of the inner end of the upstanding wall 19 and the outer end of the bottom wall 18 and which is formed to engage against the outer surface of the band material on which it is placed, and in this case on the outer surface 35 of the band 11. The outer surface 35 will be exposed, while the inner surface 36 of the band will be cemented to the tooth in the usual manner.

The outer surface 29 of the upstanding wall 19 coacts with the outer surface 35 of the band 11 to define a relatively V-shaped channel for receiving an elastic band or thread. This channel, defined by the numeral 40, is annular in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 and partiannular in the embodiment of FIG. 5. A trough 43 is formed between the outer side 23 of the bottom wall 18 and the inner side 28 of the upstanding wall 19, which facilitates the welding of the attachment to a band as illustrated particularly in FIG. 4. The method of welding the attachment 13 according to the invention to a band includes first the placement of an attachment onto a band at a predetermined location so that the ridge 33 intimately engages the outer side 35 of the band material. Welding electrodes 47 and 48 of a suitable welder are then centered on the bottom wall 18 wherein the upper electrode 47 engages the outer point or peak 24 of the bottom wall 18 and the lower electrode 48 engages oppositely the inner side 36 of the band 11. The welder is energized to define an initial spot weld which results in one or more weak welds around the ridge 33 between the base of the attachment and the band. Essentially, the first welding operation tack welds the attachment to the band. This initial weld fixes the attachment in place on the band so that subsequent and more secure welds can be made. The initial weld position is identified by the numeral 50 in FIG. 2.

Thereafter, a plurality of spot welds are made with the electrodes 47 and 48 offset from the center of the bottom wall 18 in a fashion shown in FIG. 4, where the upperelectrode engages both the outer side 23 of the bottom wall 18 and the inner side 28 of the upstanding wall 19. Energizing the welder with electrodes in this position creates a more secure spot weld in line with the electrodes between the ridge 33 and the band. It is preferable to provide'a plurality of welding operations where the upper electrode 47 is in the trough 43 of the attachment at spaced locations along the trough. For example, three spot welds from the locations 51, 52 and 53, as shown in FIG. 2, are ample to provide adequate welded securement between the attachment and the band. As illustrated, these locations are about apart, but it should be appreciated that the exact spacingbetween weld locations is not critical. While three weld locations are shown in the trough, it should also be appreciated that a greater or smaller number of weld locations could be provided. Following the spot welding which can be quickly and easily performed, it can be appreciated that the attachment will then be firmly secured to the band material without distorting the shape of the band material or requiring any further operations to complete the satisfactory securement of the attachment to the band. Since it is well known that spot welding will not discolor or weaken the band, the completed product, attachment and band, is ready for placement on the patients tooth.

A modification is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein an attachment according to the invention and generally designated by the numeral 60, is shown spot welded to a band 61 mounted on a biscuspid or molar tooth 62. It may be first appreciated that a bicuspid or molar tooth is larger than a cuspid tooth and it is desirable to have a larger attachment for such a tooth, at least larger mesiodistally. In order for such a larger attachment to fit onto a band, its occlusal or gingival sides must be reduced. This will permit a larger diameter attachment to be used which would not otherwise be possible. As illustrated, the attachment is reduced in size occlusalgingivally by omitting a portion of the attachment at the occlusal end. As illustrated, approximately fifty percent of the attachment is omitted, although it can be appreciated any percent may be omitted as desired. Inasmuch as all traction forces are in the mesial, distal or occlusal direction, the missing occlusal portion does not reduce the effectiveness of this attachment. No substantial retention is lost by eliminating a part of the occlusal portion of the attachment. As illustrated, elastic thread 63 is positioned on the attachment. Arrows 64, 65 and 66 represent the various traction forces that may be applied to this attachment for conducting orthodontic treatment, and accordingly, the elastic thread 63 will properly be retained by the attachment which covers the mesial, distal and gingival areas along the band.

The method of securing the attachment 60 to the band would be substantially the same as that already described in securing the attachment 13 to the band, wherein first electrodes would be aligned on the peak of the bottom wall of the attachment and thereafter offset from the peak of the bottom wall into the trough between the bottom wall and the upstanding wall. Any number of spot welds may be provided.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An orthodontic tying attachment for securing an elastic band or thread to a tooth to apply a traction force, said attachment being constructed to be multiple spot welded to band material and comprising a generally dish-shaped body having a base wall and an upstanding wall, said base wall being generally conically shaped with the inner side facing the band material, said upstanding wall being inverted generally frustoconically'shaped with the outer side facing the band material so as to coact therewith and define a substantially cross-sectional V-shaped channel, and said base and upstanding walls defining at their junction a ridge engaging the band material and a trough opposite thereto, whereby multiple welds are caused at the ridge with the band material upon the placement of electrodes one on the attachment in the trough and one opposite thereto and on the side of the band material opposite the side engaging the attachment.

2. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall is arcuate in cross section.

3. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the walls are full circular.

4. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the walls are parti-circular.

5. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the position and sizes of the walls define the trough such that the electrodes when in position are substantially centered on the ridge.

6. An orthodontic tying attachment for securing an elastic band or thread to a tooth to apply a traction force, said attachment being constructed to be multiple spot welded to band material and comprising a generally dish-shaped body having a base wall and an arcuate in cross section upstanding wall, said base wall being generally conically shaped and parti-circular with the inner side facing the band material, said upstanding wall being inverted generally frusto-conically shaped and parti-circular with the outer side facing the band material so as to coact therewith and define a substantially cross-sectional V-shaped channel, and said base and upstanding walls defining at their junction a ridge engaging the band material and a trough opposite thereto, the position and sizes of the walls defining the trough such that the electrodes when in position are substantially centered on the ridge, whereby multiple welds are caused at the ridge with the band material upon the placement of electrodes one on the attachattachment. 

1. An orthodontic tying attachment for securing an elastic band or thread to a tooth to apply a traction force, said attachment being constructed to be multiple spot welded to band material and comprising a generally dish-shaped body having a base wall and an upstanding wall, said base wall being generally conically shaped with the inner side facing the band material, said upstanding wall being inverted generally frusto-conically shaped with the outer side facing the band material so as to coact therewith and define a substantially cross-sectional V-shaped channel, and said base and upstanding walls defining at their junction a ridge engaging the band material and a trough opposite thereto, whereby multiple welds are caused at the ridge with the band material upon the placement of electrodes one on the attachment in the trough and one opposite thereto and on the side of the band material opposite the side engaging the attachment.
 2. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall is arcuate in cross section.
 3. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the walls are full circular.
 4. An attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the walls are parti-circular.
 5. An aTtachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the position and sizes of the walls define the trough such that the electrodes when in position are substantially centered on the ridge.
 6. An orthodontic tying attachment for securing an elastic band or thread to a tooth to apply a traction force, said attachment being constructed to be multiple spot welded to band material and comprising a generally dish-shaped body having a base wall and an arcuate in cross section upstanding wall, said base wall being generally conically shaped and parti-circular with the inner side facing the band material, said upstanding wall being inverted generally frusto-conically shaped and parti-circular with the outer side facing the band material so as to coact therewith and define a substantially cross-sectional V-shaped channel, and said base and upstanding walls defining at their junction a ridge engaging the band material and a trough opposite thereto, the position and sizes of the walls defining the trough such that the electrodes when in position are substantially centered on the ridge, whereby multiple welds are caused at the ridge with the band material upon the placement of electrodes one on the attachment in the trough and one opposite thereto and on the side of the band material opposite the side engaging the attachment. 